The Media Studies Working Group which brought you BANG BANG, SHOOT SHOOT! and PICTURES OF A GENERATION ON HOLD announces B R A I N W A T C H I N G: Intellect and Ideology in Media Culture an International Conference May 6-7, 2000 at Ryerson Polytechnic University, Toronto *** visit us on the web: www.ryerson.ca/mgroup/brain.html *** GUEST SPEAKERS VIVIAN SOBCHACK (University of California at Los Angeles), on Jim Carrey STUART EWEN (Hunter College / CUNY Graduate Center), on The Public mind GARTH JOWETT (University of Houston), on Francis the Talking Mule and Other Mental Handiworks of the 1950s MARK CRISPIN MILLER (New York University), on Evil Genius This conference will examine representations in film, television and popular culture of mental life and social control, specifically: images of "intelligence" and "stupidity" and the relation of these to broad-based systems of cultural and state control. We are interested in papers from across disciplines that examine in contemporary or historical context: types of intelligence and genius, wisdom, wit, emotionalism, dullness, opinion-formation, misinformation, hegemony, the creative imagination, the scientific attitude, intelligence-gathering, mystification and other notable states of mind as related to our culture. We are interested in the growing representation of the knowledge industry; with particular emphasis on knowledge, thought, and creativity as forms of capital. We would hope to see papers on any of: FRANKENSTEIN, CLUELESS, the idiot savant, OBLOMOV, films about filming, DUMB AND DUMBER; intelligence, media, and social capital; PINKY AND THE BRAIN, BRAINSTORM, AMERICAN HISTORY X; the figure of the mad professor, the dumb blond(e), the evil genius, the brawny blockhead, etc.; FORREST GUMP, THE STUNT MAN, Homer Simpson, OF MICE AND MEN, witty dialogue and witty situations; THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, evil scientists, intelligent aliens, THE MILLION DOLLAR BRAIN, films and other narrative materials about psychiatry, various versions of INVASION OF THE BODY-SNATCHERS, the teacher-student relationship, anti-intellectualism, and the school experience; HENRY, I.Q., QUIZ SHOW, MARS ATTACKS, DAVID AND LISA, HIGH SCHOOL, WELCOME BACK, KOTTER, depictions of intellectuality in relation to gender, social class, and race; THE X-FILES; PHENOMENON; Sherlock Holmes, RAIN MAN, the filmic personae of Woody Allen and Jerry Lewis, Lassie, AMADEUS, Marilyn Monroe, THE TRUMAN SHOW . . . . . all these are possibilities among many others. Papers might consider how intellect is made visible; what import is borne by pop cultural anti-intellectualism; how heroism and intellect are related historically and/or contemporarily; the relation in popular culture, television or film between intellect and morality; the appeal of popularized stupidity and goofiness, etc. ** Proposals for either (a) individual papers or (b) preconstituted panels should include the following: (1) a title, (2) an abstract NOT TO EXCEED 300 WORDS, and (3) a brief one-paragraph biographical statement about the presenter, including academic affiliation and email address. Proposals may be sent by email to [log in to unmask] or regular mail to Keith Hampson, Department of Sociology, A-809, Ryerson Polytechnic University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto ON Canada M5B 2K3 and must arrive by noon, local time, Wednesday December 1, 1999. WE WILL NOT ACCEPT PROPOSALS BY FAX. Notification of acceptance will be sent by December 31, 1999. ---- Screen-L is sponsored by the Telecommunication & Film Dept., the University of Alabama: http://www.tcf.ua.edu